CA2020046C - Latch needle for machines producing knit goods - Google Patents
Latch needle for machines producing knit goodsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2020046C CA2020046C CA002020046A CA2020046A CA2020046C CA 2020046 C CA2020046 C CA 2020046C CA 002020046 A CA002020046 A CA 002020046A CA 2020046 A CA2020046 A CA 2020046A CA 2020046 C CA2020046 C CA 2020046C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- needle
- latch
- symmetry
- slot
- shank
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B35/00—Details of, or auxiliary devices incorporated in, knitting machines, not otherwise provided for
- D04B35/02—Knitting tools or instruments not provided for in group D04B15/00 or D04B27/00
- D04B35/04—Latch needles
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Knitting Machines (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A latch needle for machines producing knit goods includes a needle shank having a slot, a needle head, and a latch. The needle shank has a first longitudinal plane of symmetry and the slot has a second longitudinal plane of symmetry. The latch is pivotably supported in the slot in the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to the second longitudinal plane of symmetry of the slot. The second longitudinal plane of symmetry intersects the first longitudinal plane of symmetry at an acute angle.
A latch needle for machines producing knit goods includes a needle shank having a slot, a needle head, and a latch. The needle shank has a first longitudinal plane of symmetry and the slot has a second longitudinal plane of symmetry. The latch is pivotably supported in the slot in the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to the second longitudinal plane of symmetry of the slot. The second longitudinal plane of symmetry intersects the first longitudinal plane of symmetry at an acute angle.
Description
~ACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a latch needle for machines producing knit goods, the needle including a needle shank, a needle head ar,d a needle latch, the needle latch being mounted in a slot of the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the needle.
In order to produce knit goods having acceptable quality, the latch needles must open and close properly during loop formation in the knitting process. In view of thi~ consideration, the pivotable latch is guided in a close rit within the slot of the needle shank. The latch is supported by bearings and haq a noucat or latch spoon which is oriented toward the tip of the hook in such a manner that, in spite of axial and radial bearing play required to render the latch easily pivotable, the noucat lies properly on the needle head when the latch is closed.
The present invention relates to a latch needle for machines producing knit goods, the needle including a needle shank, a needle head ar,d a needle latch, the needle latch being mounted in a slot of the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the needle.
In order to produce knit goods having acceptable quality, the latch needles must open and close properly during loop formation in the knitting process. In view of thi~ consideration, the pivotable latch is guided in a close rit within the slot of the needle shank. The latch is supported by bearings and haq a noucat or latch spoon which is oriented toward the tip of the hook in such a manner that, in spite of axial and radial bearing play required to render the latch easily pivotable, the noucat lies properly on the needle head when the latch is closed.
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The latch can be laterally deflected, howe~er, due to the a~orementioned bearing play. Additionally, the latch can be defle~ted by lateral forces which act on the latch and on the needle head during loop formation. ~hese lateral forces can originate, for example in a circular knitting machine, due to carrying of the needle during rotary movement ofthe needle cylinder and the dial. Wear of the latch bearing causes additional axial play which results in further lateral dç~lection of the latch, particularly after a longer period o~ operation. The result in this eventuality is that the noucat o~ the latch no longer lies centrally on the needle head and instead brushes against a knitting tool, the knitting tool being, for example, a sinker or transfer jack ad~acent to the needle. This inter~eres with the pivoting movement o~ the needle latch, resulting in the formation of longltudinal stripes or lines in the knit product. Moreover, additlonal lateral wear thereby occurs on the latch.
The undesirable lateral deflection of the needle latch is ~requently exacerbated by the ~act that, in some latch needle designs, the needle has a reduced shank height in its ~rontal region ad~acent the he~d. For example, in order to save weight, particularly ~or needles intended ~or small circular knittinq machines, the shank height between the needle butt and the groove is made to be as low as possible.
. , :j Due to this low shank height, the stability of the latch needle in its shank region following the head is correspond-ingly reduced.
During loop formation, lateral forces are caused, for S example, by the product removal device. Under the influence of the lateral forces acting on the head and groove region of the needle during loop formation, the needle is moved out of 1ts symmetrical position toward its respective needle bed wall by the required play between ad~acent needle bed walls and the needle shank, and the loop forming portion of the latch needle which projects from the needle bed is also inevitably pushed elastically somewhat to the side out of its original aentral position. A needle latch whose noucat is no longer oriented precisely toward the tip of the hook is thus lS brought closer to the adjacent knitting tool, this knitting tool being, ~or example, the adjacent sinker or transfer ~ack, 80 that pivoting movement of the latch causes the noucat o~ the latch to brush against the knitting tool.
In a latch needle disclosed in German Patent No.
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The latch can be laterally deflected, howe~er, due to the a~orementioned bearing play. Additionally, the latch can be defle~ted by lateral forces which act on the latch and on the needle head during loop formation. ~hese lateral forces can originate, for example in a circular knitting machine, due to carrying of the needle during rotary movement ofthe needle cylinder and the dial. Wear of the latch bearing causes additional axial play which results in further lateral dç~lection of the latch, particularly after a longer period o~ operation. The result in this eventuality is that the noucat o~ the latch no longer lies centrally on the needle head and instead brushes against a knitting tool, the knitting tool being, for example, a sinker or transfer jack ad~acent to the needle. This inter~eres with the pivoting movement o~ the needle latch, resulting in the formation of longltudinal stripes or lines in the knit product. Moreover, additlonal lateral wear thereby occurs on the latch.
The undesirable lateral deflection of the needle latch is ~requently exacerbated by the ~act that, in some latch needle designs, the needle has a reduced shank height in its ~rontal region ad~acent the he~d. For example, in order to save weight, particularly ~or needles intended ~or small circular knittinq machines, the shank height between the needle butt and the groove is made to be as low as possible.
. , :j Due to this low shank height, the stability of the latch needle in its shank region following the head is correspond-ingly reduced.
During loop formation, lateral forces are caused, for S example, by the product removal device. Under the influence of the lateral forces acting on the head and groove region of the needle during loop formation, the needle is moved out of 1ts symmetrical position toward its respective needle bed wall by the required play between ad~acent needle bed walls and the needle shank, and the loop forming portion of the latch needle which projects from the needle bed is also inevitably pushed elastically somewhat to the side out of its original aentral position. A needle latch whose noucat is no longer oriented precisely toward the tip of the hook is thus lS brought closer to the adjacent knitting tool, this knitting tool being, ~or example, the adjacent sinker or transfer ~ack, 80 that pivoting movement of the latch causes the noucat o~ the latch to brush against the knitting tool.
In a latch needle disclosed in German Patent No.
3,140,386, which corresponds to U.S. Patent No. 4,498,315, an attempt to overcome the problems discussed in the ~oregoing, results ln a needle having a latch, that has a '~haft portion terminating in a noucat, wherein the noucat o~ the latch i9 set at an angle to the plane of symmetry of the 2~2~0~ ~
shaft of the latch. The noucat is oriented to one ~ide of the needle shank in order to ensure that in the closed position of the latch, when the latch is pushed against the wall of the slot due to lateral forces, the noucat rests on the needle head. The noucat is oriented ~uch that it rests on the needle head both ~hen the latch needle is at rest and also when the latch needle is engaged in the knittlng process and i8 therefore subject to the aforementioned lateral ~orces. Such latch needles have been found to be quite satisfactory in practice. However, in a desire to further reduce the needle stroke and thereby increase knitting ~peeds, latch needles are produced today with a very short latch motion, with the length o~ the latch sometimes being only 2 mm including the noucat. With such short latches, however, limitations in manufacturing technology prevent the noucat of this type of needle from being placed at angles which would be required under these conditions.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
It i8 there~ore an ob;ect of the present invention to provide a latch needle whc~se latch closes properly indepen-dently of the length of tlle latch motion, even after rela-tively long perlods of use, even while under the influence of lateral ~orces on the needle head, and in which the latch, .
20''0~ Jfi during pivoting movement, remains sufficiently close to the longitudinal plane of symmetry o~ the needle that brushing against ad~acent knitting tools, particularly sinkers or trans~er ~acks, is reliably prevented.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention in that a latch needle for machines produc-ing knit goods includes:
a needle shank having a slot, the needle shank having a ~irst longitudinal plane of symmetry and the slot 0 hav~ng a second l~ngitudinal plane of symmetry:
a needle head: and a latch pivotably supported in the slot in the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to the second plane of symmetry, wherein the second longitudinal plane o~ symmetry intersects the ~irst longitudinal plane o~ symmetry at an acute angle.
Due to the ~act that, according to the invention, the longitudinal plane o~ symmetry o~ the slot is not disposed in the center plane o~ the needle, it is ensured that, when the needle is installed in the machine, even under the influence o~ the lateral ~orces generated during the loop forming process, the noucat o~ the need~.e latch cannot be pushed laterally to an extent which would be significantly beyond the plane o~ symmetry o~ the needle during pivoting movement 20~0~46 o~ the latch. This prevents the latch from brushlng against an ad~acent knitting tool. At the ~ame time, the proper, essentially central contact of the noucat on the needle head remains in ef~ect.
In a first e~bodiment, the longitudinal center plane of the slot may be arranged so-t~at it is at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the needle shank about a vertical axis extending from the upper side o~
the needle to the back of the needle. In this embodiment, the ~lot, when seen from the top looking onto the upper side o~ the needle, is in an oblique position relative to the plane o~ ~ymmetry of the needle shank. As an alternative or addltionally, the arrangement may al80 be such that the longitudinal plane of symmetry o~ the slot is arranged in a po~ltion in which it is tilted to the side about a lon-gitudinal axis which extends in the longitudinal direction o~ the needle shank. The acute angle enclosed between the longitudinal plane of symme~ry, the latch and the longitud-inal plane o~ symmetry of the needle ~hanX, which is charac-terlstic for the lateral pivoting and/or tilting of the lon-gitudinal plane o~ symmetry of the slot, preferably has its vertex disposed in the region o~ the slot. However, depend-lng on the construction of the needle and the geometric r01ationships of the latch n~dle, other embodiments are ~, ' ~ ''' ,:
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possible in which the verte~ of this acute angle comes to lie outside of the region of the sl~t.
The magnitude of the aforementioned acute angle depends, among others, on cheek height of the needle, the thicknes~ of the needle shank, and the installation conditions of the needle in the associated knitting machine. This acute angle preferably lies in a range between 0.5- and 6-.
In order to further improve the lateral guidance of the ; latch needle and increase its stability, the needle shank can include at least one raised portion in the region of its transitlon toward the groove on its upper side so as to give improved support to the needle in the needle bed of the machlne, 80 that the needle shan~ lies securely ngainst the needle bed walls. This raised portion may, even under crltical operating conditions as well as the influence of lateral forces, prevent the needle shank region adjacent to the needle head from being tilted about its longitudinal axis in the direction of the needle bed wall opposite to the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder beyond the amount due to unavoidable play between the latch needle and the needle bed walls. The loop forming portion of the latch needle, which pro~ects from the needle bed and includes the needle head and the latch, is thus additionally held in a position ensuring malfunction-free operation.
2~29~k6 Machines for the production of knit goods in which the novel latch needles can be e~lployed are preferably understood to include knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines which operate with latch needles and in which, due to technical considerations, lateral forces are generated, for example during the rotary movement of the needle cylinder and the dial or, as a result of product removal. These lateral forces are generated at the needle head and at the latch and the needle shank region following it.
The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawlngs .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a latch needle according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the head and adjacent portions of the latch needle of Fig.
l, and which correspond to the region indicated in Fig. 1 by the letter A.
Fig. 3 ia a top elevational view of an embodiment of the latch needle of the type shown in Fig. 1 with the needle latch omitted.
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Fig. 4 i6 a sectional view of the latch needle of Fig.
3 taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a latch needle of the type shown in Fig. 1, with the needle latch omitted.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the latch needle of Fig.
5 taken along line VI-VI of Fig. 5.
~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A latch needle 100 is shown in Fig. 1, and corresponds generally to that specified in DIN IS0 8119. ~he la~ch needle 100 includes a cheek 4, a groovç 6 formed in an upper side 7 of the needle, and a needle shank 1 which at one end has a butt 2 and at the other end a needle head or hook 3.
The hook 3 has a tip 14. The latch needle 100 has a lon-gitudinal axis 40 and a longitudinally extending, elongate 810t 8 formed in the needle shank 1 in the region of the cheek 4.
A latch 11 has a pivot end disposed in the slot 8 and is pivotable about a pivot axis 120, the pivot axis 120 being oriented generally transversely to a longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 ~shown in Fig. 3) of the slot 8. The slot 8 includes a back punch 10 which opens toward a back side 9 of the needle shank 1 and is approximately disposed below the 2~20~46 pivot axis 120 of the latch 11. It is alternatively possible according to the invention to provide needle constructions corresponding to the latch needle 100 in which no back punch 10 exists.
S The latch 11 is seated in the slot ~ such that it can pivot about the pivot axis,120; On its end facing away from the pivot axis 12,0, the latch 11 has a noucat 12 which i8 seated on a latch shaft 13 entering into the slot 8, the latch shaft 13 including a bearing bore (unnum~ered) for receiving a pin or bearing member 5 which rotatably supports thel latch 11 within the bearing bore. A closed position o~
the latch 11 is shown in Fig. 2, in which the noucat 12 rests centrally on the tip 14 of the hook 3.
The needle shank 1 is preferably formed by being punched out of sheet metal (e.g. steel band) or produced from steel wire, such that it has a longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 as shown in Fig. 3. The needle shank 1 has sides 18 and 19. The slot 8 is preferably formed fiuch that its lon-gitudinal plane of symmetry 15 lies at an acute angle 20 with the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle sh'ank 1, as measured in a plane (i.e., the plane of the paper in which Fig. 3 lies) which is orthogonal,to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shank 1. The slot 8 preferably has substantially parallel lateral flanks 22 and ', 2~2~046 ___ _ _ .
23, and a concave lower surface. The slot ~ extends through the back punch 10.
The vertical plane of symmetry 15 of the slot 8 inter-sects the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shank 1 at a line 30. The line 30 is indicated by a single point in Fig. 3 and extends transversely the plane of Fig. 3.
This mean~ that the vertex of the acute angle 20, indicated by the line 30, lies within the region of the slot 8.
Figs. 5 and 6 show another embodiment in which a latch needle 101 similar to the latch needle 100, and which includes a needle shank 1' having a needle head or hook 3' and A longitudinal plane of symmetry 16'. The hook 3' has a tip 14'. ~he latch needle 101 has a longitudinal axis 40', a longitudinally extending, elongate slot 8' formed in the lS needle shank 1' to receive a latch (not shown) corresponding to the latch 11 of Fig. 2, and a back punch 10'. The slot 8' has a longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' (shown in Fig. 5) of the slot 8'. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' is tilted laterally relatlve to the longitudinal plane o~ symmetry 16' and intersects it at a line 21 as shown in Fig. 6, the line 21 extending in the longitudinal direction of the needle shank 1'. The longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' intersects the longltudinal plane o~ symmetry 16' at an acute angle 20a.
~ _ _ 2, ~ O ~ fi In the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the acute angles 20 and 20a each preferably lie in a range between 0.5' and 6-. In exceptional cases, deviations from this range in either angular direction are also permissible within the scope of the invention.
The arrangement of the sIot 8 in the embodiment accord-lng to Flgs. 3 and 4 may also be combined with that of the embodiment according to Figs. 5 and 6 so that the slot 8 lies "askew" in the needle shank 1. In this case, a slot cor-responding to the slot 8, and having a longitudinal plane ofRymmetry which corresponds to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 would intersect a longitudinal plane of symmetry which corresponds to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 at an acute angle corresponding both to the acute angle 20 as well as to the acute angle 20a. In this case, these two acute angles 20 and 20a may be identical or, preferably, of dl~erent angular sizes.
In a rest position of the latch needle 100, due to the pivoted position o~ the slot 8 in the embodiment o~ Figs. 3 20 and 4, the latch 11, whose shaft 13 is laterally guided in the slot 8, comes to lie ln such a position when closed that its noucat 12 rests on the needle tip 14 while being dis-placed to one side. I~ the latch needle 100 shown in Figs. 3 and 5 is inserted, ~or example, into the needle cylinder of a ~ --- 2~0i~
circular knitting machine whlch rotates clockwise as indi-cated by an arrow 22 in Fig. 3, the latch 11 and the needle head 3 are ~omewhat bent late~ally outwardly by attacking lateral forces so that the needle shank 1 is pressed, on the S side 19 of the latch needle 100 which is in the rear when ~een ln the direction of rotation 22, against the associated side wall of the needle bed. Due to the oblique orientatlon of the slot 8, however, it remains ensured that the noucat 12 properly covers the tip 14 and that the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 o~ the slot 8 cannot be pushed laterally beyond the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shanX 1.
In this way the noucat 12 is reliably prevented ~rom brushing agalnst an ad~acent sinker or transfer ~ack, even when the needles are arranged in very close proximity.
Similarly, in the embodiment of Figs. S and 6, in a rest positlon o~ the latch needle 101, due to the tilted position o~ the slot 8', a latch corresponding to the latch 11 of Fig.
2 i~ laterally guided in the slot 8' and comes to lie in such a po~ition when closed that its noucat, which corresponds to tho noucat 12 o~ Fig. 2, re~ts on the needle tip 14' while bolng displaced to one side. When the latch needle 101 shown ln Figs. 5 and 6 is lnserted, ~or example, into the needle cyllnder o~ a circular knitting machine which rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow 22 in Fig. 5, the latch 2 ~
corresponding to the latch 11 in Fig. 2 and the needle head 3' are somewhat bent laterally outwardly by attacXing lateral forces so that the needle shank 1' is pressed, on a side 19 of the latch needle 101 which is in the rear when S seen ln the direction of rotation 22, against the associated side wall of the needle bed. Due to the oblique orientation o~ the slot 8', however, it remains ensured that the noucat corresponding to the noucat 12 in Fig. 2 properly covers the tip 14' and that the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' of the slot 8' cannot be pushed laterally beyond the lon-gitudinal plane of svmmetry 16' of the needle shank 1'. In thi~ way the noucat, which corresponds to the noucat 12 of Fig. 2, i~ reliably prevented from brushing against an ad~acent sinker or transfer ~ack, even when the needles are lS arranged in very close proximity.
The above-described two embodiment~ of a latch needle both include a grooved or hollowed noucat corresponding to the noucat 12 o~ Fig. 2. However, the present invention can be employed in a similar manner for latch needles having a grooved or concave needle head or hook instead of the convex needle head or hook 3 shown in Fig. 2, and is, in general, lndependent o~ the con~iguration of the contact face between the needle latch 11 and the upper side 7 of the on the needle head or hook 3.
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As can be seen in Fig. 1, the needle shanX 1 includes a rai~ed portion 28 on its upper side 7 in the region of a tran~ition to the groove 6. If necessary, this raised portion 28 may also be shorter or may be replaced by a plurality of raised portions that are spaced one behind the other, and if so required may also be substantially shorter than that shown in the drawing. The raised portion 28 prevents the latch needle, corresponding to the latch needles 100 and 101, from being tilted or twisted between the needle bed walls to a degree beyond the play required for operation under the influence of the lateral forces attacking the respective one of needle heads 3 or 3' which, under difficult operatlng conditlons, would still raise the danger of the respective latch corresponding to the latch 11 from brushing against the ad~acent sinker or transfer jack. The loop ~ormlng portlon of the latch needle 100 pro~ecting from the needle cylinder, together with needle head 3 and the needle latch 11, are thereby held in the correct position within the needle ~ed for operation without interference even under these conditions.
In the foregoing description of Figs. 3 and 5, the relationchips are described for a circular knitting machine rotating in a clockwise directlon which is indicated by the corresponding one Or the arrows 22. For a circular knitting ~90 ~
machine rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as widely encountered in practice, conditions would be reversed from the foregoing description.
While in the em~odiments according to Figs. 3 and 5 show the respective vertexes of the acute angles 20 and 20a, indicated respectively by the lines 30 and 21, as lying within the regions of the respective ones of the slotg 8 and 8', these vertexes can lie outside these regions. This can occur in the case, for example, where the respective ones of the slots 8 and 8' are relatively short compared to the width of the needle shank 1 and are sufficiently off-center from the respective ones of the longitudinal planes of symmetry 16 and 16'.
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It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
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shaft of the latch. The noucat is oriented to one ~ide of the needle shank in order to ensure that in the closed position of the latch, when the latch is pushed against the wall of the slot due to lateral forces, the noucat rests on the needle head. The noucat is oriented ~uch that it rests on the needle head both ~hen the latch needle is at rest and also when the latch needle is engaged in the knittlng process and i8 therefore subject to the aforementioned lateral ~orces. Such latch needles have been found to be quite satisfactory in practice. However, in a desire to further reduce the needle stroke and thereby increase knitting ~peeds, latch needles are produced today with a very short latch motion, with the length o~ the latch sometimes being only 2 mm including the noucat. With such short latches, however, limitations in manufacturing technology prevent the noucat of this type of needle from being placed at angles which would be required under these conditions.
SUMMA~Y OF THE INVENTION
It i8 there~ore an ob;ect of the present invention to provide a latch needle whc~se latch closes properly indepen-dently of the length of tlle latch motion, even after rela-tively long perlods of use, even while under the influence of lateral ~orces on the needle head, and in which the latch, .
20''0~ Jfi during pivoting movement, remains sufficiently close to the longitudinal plane of symmetry o~ the needle that brushing against ad~acent knitting tools, particularly sinkers or trans~er ~acks, is reliably prevented.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention in that a latch needle for machines produc-ing knit goods includes:
a needle shank having a slot, the needle shank having a ~irst longitudinal plane of symmetry and the slot 0 hav~ng a second l~ngitudinal plane of symmetry:
a needle head: and a latch pivotably supported in the slot in the needle shank so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to the second plane of symmetry, wherein the second longitudinal plane o~ symmetry intersects the ~irst longitudinal plane o~ symmetry at an acute angle.
Due to the ~act that, according to the invention, the longitudinal plane o~ symmetry o~ the slot is not disposed in the center plane o~ the needle, it is ensured that, when the needle is installed in the machine, even under the influence o~ the lateral ~orces generated during the loop forming process, the noucat o~ the need~.e latch cannot be pushed laterally to an extent which would be significantly beyond the plane o~ symmetry o~ the needle during pivoting movement 20~0~46 o~ the latch. This prevents the latch from brushlng against an ad~acent knitting tool. At the ~ame time, the proper, essentially central contact of the noucat on the needle head remains in ef~ect.
In a first e~bodiment, the longitudinal center plane of the slot may be arranged so-t~at it is at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the needle shank about a vertical axis extending from the upper side o~
the needle to the back of the needle. In this embodiment, the ~lot, when seen from the top looking onto the upper side o~ the needle, is in an oblique position relative to the plane o~ ~ymmetry of the needle shank. As an alternative or addltionally, the arrangement may al80 be such that the longitudinal plane of symmetry o~ the slot is arranged in a po~ltion in which it is tilted to the side about a lon-gitudinal axis which extends in the longitudinal direction o~ the needle shank. The acute angle enclosed between the longitudinal plane of symme~ry, the latch and the longitud-inal plane o~ symmetry of the needle ~hanX, which is charac-terlstic for the lateral pivoting and/or tilting of the lon-gitudinal plane o~ symmetry of the slot, preferably has its vertex disposed in the region o~ the slot. However, depend-lng on the construction of the needle and the geometric r01ationships of the latch n~dle, other embodiments are ~, ' ~ ''' ,:
2~20~4~
possible in which the verte~ of this acute angle comes to lie outside of the region of the sl~t.
The magnitude of the aforementioned acute angle depends, among others, on cheek height of the needle, the thicknes~ of the needle shank, and the installation conditions of the needle in the associated knitting machine. This acute angle preferably lies in a range between 0.5- and 6-.
In order to further improve the lateral guidance of the ; latch needle and increase its stability, the needle shank can include at least one raised portion in the region of its transitlon toward the groove on its upper side so as to give improved support to the needle in the needle bed of the machlne, 80 that the needle shan~ lies securely ngainst the needle bed walls. This raised portion may, even under crltical operating conditions as well as the influence of lateral forces, prevent the needle shank region adjacent to the needle head from being tilted about its longitudinal axis in the direction of the needle bed wall opposite to the direction of rotation of the needle cylinder beyond the amount due to unavoidable play between the latch needle and the needle bed walls. The loop forming portion of the latch needle, which pro~ects from the needle bed and includes the needle head and the latch, is thus additionally held in a position ensuring malfunction-free operation.
2~29~k6 Machines for the production of knit goods in which the novel latch needles can be e~lployed are preferably understood to include knitting machines, particularly circular knitting machines which operate with latch needles and in which, due to technical considerations, lateral forces are generated, for example during the rotary movement of the needle cylinder and the dial or, as a result of product removal. These lateral forces are generated at the needle head and at the latch and the needle shank region following it.
The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawlngs .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a latch needle according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the head and adjacent portions of the latch needle of Fig.
l, and which correspond to the region indicated in Fig. 1 by the letter A.
Fig. 3 ia a top elevational view of an embodiment of the latch needle of the type shown in Fig. 1 with the needle latch omitted.
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Fig. 4 i6 a sectional view of the latch needle of Fig.
3 taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another embodiment of a latch needle of the type shown in Fig. 1, with the needle latch omitted.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the latch needle of Fig.
5 taken along line VI-VI of Fig. 5.
~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A latch needle 100 is shown in Fig. 1, and corresponds generally to that specified in DIN IS0 8119. ~he la~ch needle 100 includes a cheek 4, a groovç 6 formed in an upper side 7 of the needle, and a needle shank 1 which at one end has a butt 2 and at the other end a needle head or hook 3.
The hook 3 has a tip 14. The latch needle 100 has a lon-gitudinal axis 40 and a longitudinally extending, elongate 810t 8 formed in the needle shank 1 in the region of the cheek 4.
A latch 11 has a pivot end disposed in the slot 8 and is pivotable about a pivot axis 120, the pivot axis 120 being oriented generally transversely to a longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 ~shown in Fig. 3) of the slot 8. The slot 8 includes a back punch 10 which opens toward a back side 9 of the needle shank 1 and is approximately disposed below the 2~20~46 pivot axis 120 of the latch 11. It is alternatively possible according to the invention to provide needle constructions corresponding to the latch needle 100 in which no back punch 10 exists.
S The latch 11 is seated in the slot ~ such that it can pivot about the pivot axis,120; On its end facing away from the pivot axis 12,0, the latch 11 has a noucat 12 which i8 seated on a latch shaft 13 entering into the slot 8, the latch shaft 13 including a bearing bore (unnum~ered) for receiving a pin or bearing member 5 which rotatably supports thel latch 11 within the bearing bore. A closed position o~
the latch 11 is shown in Fig. 2, in which the noucat 12 rests centrally on the tip 14 of the hook 3.
The needle shank 1 is preferably formed by being punched out of sheet metal (e.g. steel band) or produced from steel wire, such that it has a longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 as shown in Fig. 3. The needle shank 1 has sides 18 and 19. The slot 8 is preferably formed fiuch that its lon-gitudinal plane of symmetry 15 lies at an acute angle 20 with the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle sh'ank 1, as measured in a plane (i.e., the plane of the paper in which Fig. 3 lies) which is orthogonal,to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shank 1. The slot 8 preferably has substantially parallel lateral flanks 22 and ', 2~2~046 ___ _ _ .
23, and a concave lower surface. The slot ~ extends through the back punch 10.
The vertical plane of symmetry 15 of the slot 8 inter-sects the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shank 1 at a line 30. The line 30 is indicated by a single point in Fig. 3 and extends transversely the plane of Fig. 3.
This mean~ that the vertex of the acute angle 20, indicated by the line 30, lies within the region of the slot 8.
Figs. 5 and 6 show another embodiment in which a latch needle 101 similar to the latch needle 100, and which includes a needle shank 1' having a needle head or hook 3' and A longitudinal plane of symmetry 16'. The hook 3' has a tip 14'. ~he latch needle 101 has a longitudinal axis 40', a longitudinally extending, elongate slot 8' formed in the lS needle shank 1' to receive a latch (not shown) corresponding to the latch 11 of Fig. 2, and a back punch 10'. The slot 8' has a longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' (shown in Fig. 5) of the slot 8'. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' is tilted laterally relatlve to the longitudinal plane o~ symmetry 16' and intersects it at a line 21 as shown in Fig. 6, the line 21 extending in the longitudinal direction of the needle shank 1'. The longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' intersects the longltudinal plane o~ symmetry 16' at an acute angle 20a.
~ _ _ 2, ~ O ~ fi In the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the acute angles 20 and 20a each preferably lie in a range between 0.5' and 6-. In exceptional cases, deviations from this range in either angular direction are also permissible within the scope of the invention.
The arrangement of the sIot 8 in the embodiment accord-lng to Flgs. 3 and 4 may also be combined with that of the embodiment according to Figs. 5 and 6 so that the slot 8 lies "askew" in the needle shank 1. In this case, a slot cor-responding to the slot 8, and having a longitudinal plane ofRymmetry which corresponds to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 would intersect a longitudinal plane of symmetry which corresponds to the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 at an acute angle corresponding both to the acute angle 20 as well as to the acute angle 20a. In this case, these two acute angles 20 and 20a may be identical or, preferably, of dl~erent angular sizes.
In a rest position of the latch needle 100, due to the pivoted position o~ the slot 8 in the embodiment o~ Figs. 3 20 and 4, the latch 11, whose shaft 13 is laterally guided in the slot 8, comes to lie ln such a position when closed that its noucat 12 rests on the needle tip 14 while being dis-placed to one side. I~ the latch needle 100 shown in Figs. 3 and 5 is inserted, ~or example, into the needle cylinder of a ~ --- 2~0i~
circular knitting machine whlch rotates clockwise as indi-cated by an arrow 22 in Fig. 3, the latch 11 and the needle head 3 are ~omewhat bent late~ally outwardly by attacking lateral forces so that the needle shank 1 is pressed, on the S side 19 of the latch needle 100 which is in the rear when ~een ln the direction of rotation 22, against the associated side wall of the needle bed. Due to the oblique orientatlon of the slot 8, however, it remains ensured that the noucat 12 properly covers the tip 14 and that the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15 o~ the slot 8 cannot be pushed laterally beyond the longitudinal plane of symmetry 16 of the needle shanX 1.
In this way the noucat 12 is reliably prevented ~rom brushing agalnst an ad~acent sinker or transfer ~ack, even when the needles are arranged in very close proximity.
Similarly, in the embodiment of Figs. S and 6, in a rest positlon o~ the latch needle 101, due to the tilted position o~ the slot 8', a latch corresponding to the latch 11 of Fig.
2 i~ laterally guided in the slot 8' and comes to lie in such a po~ition when closed that its noucat, which corresponds to tho noucat 12 o~ Fig. 2, re~ts on the needle tip 14' while bolng displaced to one side. When the latch needle 101 shown ln Figs. 5 and 6 is lnserted, ~or example, into the needle cyllnder o~ a circular knitting machine which rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow 22 in Fig. 5, the latch 2 ~
corresponding to the latch 11 in Fig. 2 and the needle head 3' are somewhat bent laterally outwardly by attacXing lateral forces so that the needle shank 1' is pressed, on a side 19 of the latch needle 101 which is in the rear when S seen ln the direction of rotation 22, against the associated side wall of the needle bed. Due to the oblique orientation o~ the slot 8', however, it remains ensured that the noucat corresponding to the noucat 12 in Fig. 2 properly covers the tip 14' and that the longitudinal plane of symmetry 15' of the slot 8' cannot be pushed laterally beyond the lon-gitudinal plane of svmmetry 16' of the needle shank 1'. In thi~ way the noucat, which corresponds to the noucat 12 of Fig. 2, i~ reliably prevented from brushing against an ad~acent sinker or transfer ~ack, even when the needles are lS arranged in very close proximity.
The above-described two embodiment~ of a latch needle both include a grooved or hollowed noucat corresponding to the noucat 12 o~ Fig. 2. However, the present invention can be employed in a similar manner for latch needles having a grooved or concave needle head or hook instead of the convex needle head or hook 3 shown in Fig. 2, and is, in general, lndependent o~ the con~iguration of the contact face between the needle latch 11 and the upper side 7 of the on the needle head or hook 3.
., .. ., .. . - .
2 0 ~
As can be seen in Fig. 1, the needle shanX 1 includes a rai~ed portion 28 on its upper side 7 in the region of a tran~ition to the groove 6. If necessary, this raised portion 28 may also be shorter or may be replaced by a plurality of raised portions that are spaced one behind the other, and if so required may also be substantially shorter than that shown in the drawing. The raised portion 28 prevents the latch needle, corresponding to the latch needles 100 and 101, from being tilted or twisted between the needle bed walls to a degree beyond the play required for operation under the influence of the lateral forces attacking the respective one of needle heads 3 or 3' which, under difficult operatlng conditlons, would still raise the danger of the respective latch corresponding to the latch 11 from brushing against the ad~acent sinker or transfer jack. The loop ~ormlng portlon of the latch needle 100 pro~ecting from the needle cylinder, together with needle head 3 and the needle latch 11, are thereby held in the correct position within the needle ~ed for operation without interference even under these conditions.
In the foregoing description of Figs. 3 and 5, the relationchips are described for a circular knitting machine rotating in a clockwise directlon which is indicated by the corresponding one Or the arrows 22. For a circular knitting ~90 ~
machine rotating in a counterclockwise direction, as widely encountered in practice, conditions would be reversed from the foregoing description.
While in the em~odiments according to Figs. 3 and 5 show the respective vertexes of the acute angles 20 and 20a, indicated respectively by the lines 30 and 21, as lying within the regions of the respective ones of the slotg 8 and 8', these vertexes can lie outside these regions. This can occur in the case, for example, where the respective ones of the slots 8 and 8' are relatively short compared to the width of the needle shank 1 and are sufficiently off-center from the respective ones of the longitudinal planes of symmetry 16 and 16'.
' ' ' ' ~ , " '.'. ": ' ' "
. . . : ; :, .
202~046 ~
It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
: ', . '. :
Claims (10)
1. A latch needle for machines producing knit goods, comprising:
a needle shank having a slot, said needle shank having a first longitudinal plane of symmetry and said slot having a second longitudinal plane of symmetry;
a needle head; and a latch pivotably supported in said slot so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to said second longitudinal plane of symmetry; wherein said second longitudinal plane of symmetry intersects said first longitudinal plane of symmetry at an acute angle.
a needle shank having a slot, said needle shank having a first longitudinal plane of symmetry and said slot having a second longitudinal plane of symmetry;
a needle head; and a latch pivotably supported in said slot so as to be pivotable about a latch axis extending transversely to said second longitudinal plane of symmetry; wherein said second longitudinal plane of symmetry intersects said first longitudinal plane of symmetry at an acute angle.
2. A latch needle as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle shank has an upper and a lower side, and said second longitudinal plane of symmetry intersects said first lon-gitudinal plane of symmetry along a vertically-oriented line which extends between said upper side of said needle shank and said back of said needle shank.
3. A latch needle as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle shank has a longitudinal extent, and said second lon-gitudinal plane of symmetry intersects said first longitud-inal plane of symmetry at a line which is generally parallel to said longitudinal extent of said needle shank.
4. A latch needle as defined in claim 2, wherein said acute angle has its vertex in a region of said needle shank containing said slot.
5. A latch needle as defined in claim 2, wherein said acute angle has its vertex in a region of said needle shank which lies outside of said slot as seen in a longitudinal direction of said needle shank.
6. A latch needle as defined in claim 1, wherein said acute angle is in a range of approximately 0.5° and 6°.
7. A latch needle as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle shank further comprises an upper side, at least one raised portion on said upper side, and a groove in said upper side; and wherein said raised portion extends adjacent said groove.
8. A latch needle as defined in claim 1, wherein said needle shank includes a back punch adjacent said curved groove adjacent a back side of said needle shank.
9. A latch needle as defined in claim 3, wherein said acute angle has its vertex in a region of said needle shank containing said slot.
10. A latch needle as defined in claim 3, wherein said acute angle has its vertex in a region of said needle shank which lies outside of said slot as seen in a longitudinal direction of said needle shank.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3921458A DE3921458C1 (en) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-06-30 | |
| DEP3921458.3 | 1989-06-30 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2020046A1 CA2020046A1 (en) | 1990-12-31 |
| CA2020046C true CA2020046C (en) | 1993-04-06 |
Family
ID=6383968
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002020046A Expired - Fee Related CA2020046C (en) | 1989-06-30 | 1990-06-28 | Latch needle for machines producing knit goods |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5090218A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0405130B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH03220349A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2020046C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3921458C1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2045641T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2220615T3 (en) * | 2000-04-15 | 2004-12-16 | Groz-Beckert Kg | TONGUE NEEDLE WITH SPACE FOR IMPROVED THREAD. |
| DE502005003486D1 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2008-05-08 | Groz Beckert Kg | Machine knitting needle |
| US7634922B2 (en) * | 2005-11-21 | 2009-12-22 | Hbi Branded Apparel Enterprises, Llc | Knitting needle for knitting sueded fabrics and methods of knitting sueded fabrics |
| US7757516B1 (en) | 2005-11-21 | 2010-07-20 | Hbi Branded Apparel Enterprises, Llc | Abrasive knitting needle and sinker |
| US7757515B1 (en) | 2009-03-11 | 2010-07-20 | Hbi Branded Apparel Enterprises, Llc | Cut pile fabric and method of making same |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1764342A (en) * | 1929-07-03 | 1930-06-17 | Gotham Knitbac Machine Corp | Knitting needle |
| DE586678C (en) * | 1932-02-21 | 1933-10-24 | Franz Meiwald | Knitting machine with latch needles |
| DE672512C (en) * | 1936-10-18 | 1939-03-04 | Dubied & Cie Sa E | Knitting machine needle |
| DE3140386C2 (en) * | 1981-10-10 | 1983-09-15 | Theodor Groz & Söhne & Ernst Beckert Nadelfabrik KG, 7470 Albstadt | "Latch needle for machines for the production of knitted goods" |
| JPS6059337A (en) * | 1983-09-13 | 1985-04-05 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Copy magnification varying device of copying machine |
| JPS6217514U (en) * | 1985-07-13 | 1987-02-02 | ||
| JPS63177977U (en) * | 1987-05-06 | 1988-11-17 |
-
1989
- 1989-06-30 DE DE3921458A patent/DE3921458C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1990
- 1990-05-19 EP EP90109546A patent/EP0405130B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-05-19 DE DE90109546T patent/DE59003059D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-05-19 ES ES90109546T patent/ES2045641T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-06-28 CA CA002020046A patent/CA2020046C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-06-29 JP JP2170369A patent/JPH03220349A/en active Granted
- 1990-07-02 US US07/546,938 patent/US5090218A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3921458C1 (en) | 1990-09-27 |
| EP0405130A1 (en) | 1991-01-02 |
| JPH03220349A (en) | 1991-09-27 |
| EP0405130B1 (en) | 1993-10-13 |
| ES2045641T3 (en) | 1994-01-16 |
| CA2020046A1 (en) | 1990-12-31 |
| JPH055939B2 (en) | 1993-01-25 |
| US5090218A (en) | 1992-02-25 |
| DE59003059D1 (en) | 1993-11-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |